MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

6-12 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ MCWP 3-16.1
Mission Accomplishment.
Can the battery provide support from the selected position? (This must be the overriding factor in determining position suitability.)
Designate alternate and supplementary positions.
Size of Area.
Is the selected position large enough to allow all battery equipment to be adequately dispersed?
Terrain Considerations.
Defilade Concealment
Protection from ground observation
Protection from direct fire
Protection from indirect fire
Terrain masking for antennae
Trafficability Access Routes
Suitability of road surfaces
Inclement weather plan
Survivability. Use combination of all methods to ensure maximum survivability.
Natural
Supplemental (man-made)
Disposal of empty canisters/dunnage
Concealed, preferably from rear of position
Dual routes
Threat. Prioritize most likely enemy threat to battery based on the S-2’s analysis of enemy weapons and target acquisition capabilities.
Ground attack
Air attack
Counterfire
Dispersion
Maximum feasible distance (based on threat analysis and terrain). Goal of 100 meters between howitzers in a high counterfire threat
environment. Disperse both laterally and in-depth.
FDC/antennae remoted to maximum feasible distance. Goal of 750 meters in a high EW threat environment.
Hardening
Something is better than nothing.
Minimum. Protection for personnel (fighting holes) and ammunition.
Survivability Moves
Must be completed as quickly as possible to reduce out of action time.
Move at least 1,000 meters.
Defensibility
Likely ground avenues of approach identified.
LPs/OPs and engagement areas established along likely avenues of approach (should be far enough to permit hasty
displacement to supplemental or alternate positions).
Indirect fires planned from mutually supporting positions on likely ground avenues of approach.
Defense diagram prepared integrating all crew-served weapons, howitzers, individual weapons, and LPs/OPs.
Supplemental direct fire positions identified.
Range cards prepared for all howitzers and crew-served weapons.
Patrols established and coordinated.
Reaction force established and mustering point identified.
Emergency signals established.
Miscellaneous
Distant aiming point identified and referred deflections recorded (at least 1,500m, preferably to the flank, and visible at night).
Verify BCS/BUCS-R computed howitzer locations with PLGR or Map Spot.
Utilize hasty astro or simo to confirm directional control.
Verify ammunition lots and coordinate emplacement of M94 chronograph with FDC.
Figure 6-4. Example Battery Commander’s Position Checklist.